That Silvio Berlusconi makes outlandish statements on occasion and that he is a savvy campaigner are two indisputable truths.

Last weekend he combined them at a press conference in Milan where he outlined his agenda if returned to power after Italy’s late February general elections.

Rounding out his day were two goals by Mario Balotelli in his debut for AC Milan after Mr. Berlusconi, the soccer team’s owner, bought him for €20 million from Manchester City.

Local press say the Sunday trifecta may have added two percentage points to Mr. Berlusconi’s polling figures. As Italian polls are rather volatile that would mean he is now within five percentage points of blasting past the center-left coalition and into the lead.